Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Jamaican Exclusivism

Why does everything in Jamaica have to be just so exclusive it is essentially counter-productive? I happen to love the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a dream of mine is to get the chance to see them perform live. I just heard this morning that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has arrived in the island to perform at two venues, one in Mandeville and the other in Kingston. What bothers me is these performances are to be held on the 13th (tomorrow) and the 17th of September. Talk about short notice. An event of this calibre should have been advertised the minute it was conceptualised. I understand the space constraints that we have with no venues available here being capable of ideally accommodating a performance of that nature.

I would have been happy to go to both concerts had I known about it earlier and had the opportunity to plan for it, but such short notice makes this event irrelevant (to me at least). What has "got my goat" or my "jaw tight, tight, tight" is the fact that the inner circles of which the organisers and planners are members knew about it all along and were able to get those who they think are more deserving of such a privilege the opportunity to see them perform (whether they appreciate it or are able to relate is not what we are here to discuss). What really upsets me is that we have evidence time and time again that the real creativity and the real movers and shakers in our society are not who we consider the "people of substance" but regular Jamaicans with talent.

I believed and have seen enough evidence to conclude that such practices of cronyism and nepotism stands only to water down an art form or a practice or whatever, if the determinants are solely because you know somebody or "have clout" then having talent is "neither here nor there." This stands to stifle creativity and water-down quality. It is essential that we integrate all of society in whatever practices we may have, wider exposure presents a greater talent-base from which the best can be selected - I need not point this out because this is common-sense, but then again, the decision-makers seem to be devoid common sense and as a country we will only suffer for it.

Those who plan and organise these things wouldn't know talent if it hit them in the face wearing a T-shirt that said "I am talent." It hurts to see some talentless people hogging the spotlight just because they "know people" or " have money" when the people with real talent are left to languish in poverty and non-exposure. Jamaica would be so much better if those who deserve better were given exactly that!!!

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